Six killed in human crush during religious festival in India

At least six people have lost their lives and over a dozen others been injured in a human crush during a religious festival in eastern India.

According to reports, the incident occurred along the bank of the River Ganges just south of the city of Kolkata on Monday as people returning from camping during the religious event rushed to get into a highly crowded boat in the Kachburia Ghat area.

Mantu Ram Pakhira, the development minister of West Bengal State, of which Kolkata is the capital, said six women died and 15 people were injured. He said rescue operations were launched to look for those who may have fallen into the river during the crush.

Local officials said three of those who died were non-locals.

The West Bengal State government has announced it would compensate the victims’ families.

Deadly stampedes are common during religious festivals in India.

The Monday incident came just a day after an overcrowded boat capsized in the River Ganges in neighboring Bihar State during another religious festival. At least 26 people were killed in that incident.

SS